The Center Stage for Fun and Adventure
As the Cherry Blossom Capital of the World, Macon's Cherry Blossom Festival attracts thousands of visitors every spring. Other top-rated festivals and a multitude of sights such as the Hay House, Ocmulgee National Monument, the Museum of Aviation, and ten historic districts draw tourists and conventions here. The Macon Coliseum, one of the largest convention centers outside of Atlanta, and part of the Macon Centreplex, also welcomes thousands of people to Macon annually. In addition, local theaters and museums continually provide forums for the fine arts.
At the supermarket or the coffee shop, or just about anywhere else in Macon, it's common to hear someone whistling a tune, singing a song-not just humming, but really singing! or sharing a piece of poetry. The rich cultural heritage here softly seeps into daily life, continuing to change and grow over time as new performers and artists add their personalities. Macon especially celebrates its musical heritage, which extends from the early plantation days, but it also honors its writers, actors, painters, and sculptors. A formidable list of Maconites who achieved fame outside musical circles includes author Harry Stillwell Edwards, best known for his short book, Eneas Africanus; Charles Coburn, who thrilled stage, screen, and radio audiences; Col. Robert L. Scott, author of the book, God Is My Co-Pilot, that later became a Warner Brothers movie; Susan Myrick, technical advisor for the film Gone With The Wind; and Miss America 1953, Neva Jane Langley (Mrs. William A. Fickling, Jr). Macon itself became part of Tennessee Williams' Cat On A Hot Tin Roof; which he wrote here with roles based on Iocal characters.
The artistry of Maconites in any form adds vitality to the city's atmosphere and provides an appealing contrast to the steadfast historic neighborhoods. Instead of glitzy theme parks or fabricated Gone With The Wind settings, the creative, forward-thinking individuals, amid a historical treasure-trove, introduce visitors to an authentic whole-city attraction. Tourists can still feel the nostalgia and the essence of the Old South, but they only see the genuine relics. They can share the excitement of a New South here as well. Called "cultural tourism," it's a careful balance of visionaries and preservationists wrought by the leaders of the artistic communities, heritage organizations, and tourism agencies. Working in partnership, these groups help ensure progress without sacrificing the past. They focus on educational programs, community awareness, and world-wide publicity. Through their efforts, Macon has become the state's top tourist destination outside of Atlanta. According to the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade, and Tourism (GDITT), Macon-Bibb County showed a 9.9 percent increase in tourist expenditures from 1992 to 1993, a percentage greater than the entire state's.
Most of Macon's historic homes have been renovated for
business or remain private residences. Photography Dororhy Hibbert Krakow.
Over a million visitors discover Macon's
wonders every year. Many of them stop at
the I-75 Welcome Center first, one of the
busiest in the southeast, where the well-trained
staff piques cunosity with brochures
and enthusiasm. Similarly, the Macon
Downtown Welcome Center in the Terminal
Station answers questions and directs visitors
to the city's historic, entertainment, and cultural
attractions. Both Welcome Center staffs
can arrange reservations in seconds for any
of the area's 3,500 hotel and motel rooms,
200 restaurants, various entertainment
venues, and tours. The Macon-Bibb County
Convention & Visitors Bureau, also housed
in the Terminal Station, books group tours,
conventions, and meetings too. In 1994, the
agency booked more than 600 groups and
arranged 250 conventions with 152,660 delegates
attending. Macon's central location
helps tremendously, making it easy for delegates from
across the state to arrive within hours, and increasing
the number of attendees for meeting planners. The
GDITT statistics for 1994 show the economic impact
of delegates and groups exceeded 254 million dollars.
City leaders expect the numbers to continue to climb.
Georgia's largest convention center outside of Atlanta,
the Macon Coliseum is a superb site for everything
from big-name entertainment to colossal trade-shows.
Four Seasons of Festivals
"A City For All Seasons," the Macon travel brochures proclaim, and with good reason. Throughout the year, the city hosts several festivals sparkling with music and dance, crafts, fine art, food, and more food. Perhaps the most recognized of the city's events, the annual spring Cherry Blossom Festival spans two weeks in March with fun and excitement. The first celebration was held in 1983 with about 40 events and has grown to encompass more than 400 activities, such as a televised parade, spectacular hot air balloon lift-off, exhibits, shopping, and a gigantic street party with fireworks. Named a Top 100 Event in North America and a Top 20 Event in the southeast by the Southeastem Tourism Society, the Cherry Blossom Festival attracts more than 400,000 people annually, including those who arrive on 250 motor coaches from all over the United States. A chorus of 200,000 Yoshino cherry trees burst into clouds of delicate pink blossoms to welcome everyone. Mr. William A. Fickling, Sr., a respected Macon businessman, discovered these Japanese fruitless beauties in the 1950s and shared them with the community. Now Macon boasts more Yoshino cherry trees than any other city and appropriately earned the title of "Cherry Blossom Capital of the World."
In late spring and early summer, the city's attention turns to the arts in earnest. "On My Own Time," a judged exhibition in May sponsored by the Macon Arts Alliance and local corporations, displays the creative talents of area employees. The Macon Arts Alliance, a nonprofit organization, supports Middle Georgia arts groups and promotes the community's cultural growth through education, funding, and coordination. It also operates ARTSLINE, a hotline to the area's calendar of entertainment and cultural activities. Topping the calendar in June and July is the MidSummer Macon Arts Festival coordinated through The Wesleyan College Center for the Arts. This three-week celebration emphasizes educational activities for all ages and culminates in a variety of exhibitions and performances.
The Macon Symphony Orchestra rehearses for many
events throughout the city. Photography by Ken Krakow.
With September's cooler weather comes another Top 20 Event in the southeast, Macon's Southern Jubilee. This two-week extravaganza pays tribute to the city's phenomenal musical heritage and encourages community pride. Like the Cherry Blossom Festival, Southern Jubilee's test of activities includes a humongous street party where local and national musicians on several different stages play everything from jazz, blues, rap, and Southern rock.
Special tours during the festival trace the evolution or, perhaps, the revolution, of music here. Although not all sites are open to the public, it's possible to see the birthplace of Maconite Sidney Clopton Lanier, a 19th century flutist who played among the world's finest symphonies and reportedly couldn't read music. Stroll Cotton Avenue, where a blind street singer named Rev. Pearly Brown sang for some 40 years. Brown mastered the guitar at Macon's Academy for the Blind, going on to play Carnegie Hall; he also became the Grand Ole Opry's first black performer. Drive over the Otis Redding Memorial Bridge and see the late star's country estate, or discover the childhood home of "Little Richard" Penniman in the Historic Pleasant Hill District. Wlth the restoration of the Douglass Theatre, visitors can witness performances again on the same stage that introduced James Brown, Little Richard, Otis Redding, Lena Horne, and other local musicians to black audiences. Built in 1911 by entrepreneur Charles Henry Douglass, the theatre's other performers included Cab Callaway, Ma Rainey, and Count Basie during the 60 years it was open. Not far away, the Phoenix Sound Recording Studio now operates in the historic Capricorn Records Studio building. The Capricorn label's famed astrological symbol above the door is still visible from the street. The Allman Brothers Band, which gave rise to Southern rock-and-roll, recorded here at the Capricorn studio, and the "Big House" on Vineville Avenue where most of the band members lived can be seen by appointment. The final resting places of band members Duane Allman and Berry Oakley in Rose Hill Cemetery bring fans from all over the globe to Macon.
The Southem Jubilee isn't the only autumn event to bring visitors to Macon. In October, the Arrowhead Arts & Crafts Festival launches a two-day spectacular under the shady trees at Lake Tobesofkee. More than 100 fine artists and crafters set up booths displaying items available for purchase. Shoppers and participants rest on hay bales as home cooking fills the fall air with warm aromas, and entertainers generate a spirit of camaraderie. The annual fair comes to Central City Park at about this time, too, with a splendid collection of garden harvests, exciting rides and exhibits, and more delicious foods.
Soon after the fall festivities, the holidays arrive with another
Top 20 Event in the southeast: White Columns & Holly-an Old
South Christmas in Macon. Decorated homes and businesses
light up the night as beautifully as the giant Christmas tree brightens
downtown with the season's spirit. A parade also shares the
holiday magic with Maconites and visitors. Various organizations
hold teas and socials, some to raise money to help others enjoy
the holidays. Kwanzaa, a nonreligious and nonheroic week-long
celebration of African heritage, takes place this time of year, too.
The finale of December's activity is First Night Macon, sponsored
by the Macon Arts Alliance. This nonalcoholic New Year's Eve
party for the city celebrates the performing and visual arts. Venues
throughout downtown host musical and dramatic performances or
fine art exhibits. An explosion of fireworks at midnight welcomes
the new year. On New Year's Eve, thousands of Maconites enjoy
over 50 performances and First Night Macon's popularity continues to grow.
Sites and Sights to See
Macon's mild climate and central location invite tourists all year long, and residents, too, can enjoy playing tourist in their own town. The Macon-Bibb County Convention and Visitors Bureau (MBCCVB) keeps plenty of brochures available that suggest different self-guided walking tours. A collaboration of Macon agencies created the nation's first African American Tour here. Winding through historic neighborhoods and downtown, this tour insightfully highlights the black leaders and achievers from Macon. Other walking tours focus on specific types of architecture, historic structures in downtown or "Rose Hill Rambles" through the terraced hillsides of Macon's 19th century cemetery park. In addition, two regularly scheduled nding tours through Macon point out the city's history and progress.
Travelers on I-16 or I-75 already have discovered the convenience of staying in Macon and taking day trips to visit nearby attractions. Wlthin easy driving distance, they can reach the 1847 Jarrell Plantation, the Whistle Stop Cafe and the set of the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes," Callaway Gardens, Franklin Roosevelt's Little White House, Stone Mountain Park, Six Flags Over Georgia, Hawkinsville Hamess Horse Racing, Andersonville National Historic Site, the city of Plains and the church where former President Jimmy Carter still teaches Sunday School.
Two self-guided driving tours loop through the city on a path that covers the Historic Heartland of Georgia. "Georgia's Antebellum Trail" meanders through several towns, passing by mansions and cottages of note. Because so many of Macon's older homes have been restored and several serve as museum homes, this city has become a favorite stopping point. The distinctive Hay House, a national historic landmark, commands immediate attention for those following the Antebellum Trail. Its well-trained docents share the home's secrets with guests, explaining the clever trompe l'oeil finishes and the other capricious touches in the home. The Old Cannonball House and Confederate Museum also atttacts many of those traveling the Antebellum Trail. This 1854 home sustained minor damage when a Union cannonball sailed into the front parlor during the attack on Macon in 1864. Today, the Sidney Lanier Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy own the home and its museum, and they use this site for their headquarters. The Middle Georgia Historical Society similarly uses the Sidney Lanier Cottage, a restored 1840 Victorian cottage, as their headquarters. A few of Macon's homes may be seen by appointment, such as the Woodruff House. This Greek Revival plantation-type mansion, now owned by Mercer University, gazes down over the city from the top of Coleman Hill. The Federated Garden Clubs of Macon accept appointments to tour The Garden Center, an early 1900s brick home designed by Neel Reid. Most of the other historical homes have been renovated for businesses or remain private residences, and open their doors to curious guests only for special occasions.
The plethora of historical homes, not surprisingly, has inspired a large antique market here and Macon sits prominently along Georgia's Antiques Trail. It winds through the state's heartland to reach Macon, where the city rewards antique hunters with almost 100 dealers and 25 antique shops and malls.
Some valuable antique and modern artwork in Macon can be seen along the cities streets and in the parks. Macon's monuments and public art date from the 19th century to the present. The carved Italian marble Confederate Monument, dedicated in 1879, now stands at Cotton Avenue and Second Street. Other war memorials include the World War I Monument placed at Coleman Hill in 1922, the Middle Georgia Veterans Memorial set outside the Macon Coliseum in 1988, and the Sgt. Rodney M. Davis Monument at Cotton Avenue and Poplar Street, honoring Macon's only Medal of Honor recipient; he died when he fell on a grenade, protecting his platoon in Vietnam.
Public art inspired by peace and friendship can be seen
throughout the city, too. The hand-carved, three-ton granite
Japanese lantern, or ishidoro, now in Third Street Park came
from Macon's sister city, Kurobe, Japan, in 1983. YKK Corporation
of America, Texprint (Ga.) Inc., and TKG International Inc., three
of the city's Japanese-owned companies, donated the structure.
The late Tadao Yoshida, founder of YKK, bestowed the city
with the "Heart of Friendship" abstract now displayed in the
courtyard next to the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce.
Texpnnt (Ga.) Inc. gave the kinetic sculpture outside the
Museum of Arts & Sciences on Forsyth Road. Made of stainless
steel, this piece stands 13 feet tall and silently moves with even
the slightest breeze.
Museums and More to Explore
A trip to the museum, whatever museum it may be, opens windows to the world for all ages. By touring the area facilities, it's possible to cover 10,000 years of North American history and experience a wide swath of artistic and scientific accomplishments, too. The Ocmulgee National Monument, part of the National Park System since 1936, displays artifacts of the human inhabitants here 10,000 years ago. A self-guided tour brochure explains the supposed purposes of a large ceremonial earthlodge and the park allows visitors to step inside. Several platform mounds are visible, too. The museum at the center highlights the history of the Indian mounds here and a short film brings it all to life.
The Warner Robins Museum of Aviation houses over
100,000 square feet of displays. Photography by Ken Krakow.
The newest exhibit at the Museum of Aviation also focuses on the early Native Americans in the area. Over 13,000 artifacts, recovered from 36 archaeological sites on the Robins Air Force Base property, reveal much about the people who inhabited the land long before airplanes ever flew. The Museum of Aviation and Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame covers 43 acres and exhibits more than 85 historical aircraft from World War I and World War II. Over 100,000 square feet of displays, including an authentic F-15, excite flying enthusiasts. The 250-seat VistaScope Theater films also dazzle audiences with realistic, first-person imagery.
The Museum of Arts & Sciences similarly gives visitors an exciting audiovisual experience in the skies and beyond to distant planets, stars, and galaxies. The Mark Smith Planetarium, one of the country's most sophisticated multimedia theaters, intrigues audiences with the possibilities of space. An observatory and other participatory exhibits at the center let visitors see it all for themselves. The Museum of Arts & Sciences also maintains permanent fine art exhibits and invites traveling shows. The 14 wooded acres surrounding the center offer two peaceful nature trails and provides seclusion for Macon author Harry Stillwell Edwards' Kingfisher Cabin-his writing retreat.
The hands-on approach at the Museum of Arts & Sciences is not unlike the style adopted by the Tubman African American Museum. Founded in 1981 with a mission to educate through history, art, and culture, the Tubman African American Museum focuses more on the achievements than the struggles of blacks and delves deeply into African American modes of expression. About 50,000 visitors from all 50 states and foreign countries tour the facility each year, shaking the drums, feeling the reproduction Kente cloth, admiring the works of art. "From Africa to America," a 63-foot-long mural by local artist Wilfred Stroud, takes up more than one wall, and a quilt, created by internationally acclaimed artist Wini McQueen, honors African American women of Central Georgia on another wall. The Local History Gallery features an extensive display on Ellen Craft, a Macon slave who escaped with her husband, William, in 1848. The two became respected abolitionists, writers, and educators; they eventually resumed to Georgia in 1868. The Gallery also highlights Maconite Jefferson Long, the first African-American Congressman from Georgia, and the accomplishments of the Michael and Mary Healy family. The first-born son, James Healy, became the first black Catholic bishop in the United States; his younger brother, Patrick, also a priest, became president of Georgetown University, making him one of the earliest blacks to assume a college presidency. Additionally, portraits in the Local History Gallery painted by Wilfred Stroud honor many of Macon's black leaders.
Sidney Lanier's portrait and wife's wedding dress are on display at the restored
1840 Victorian Sidney Lanier Cottage. Photography by Ken Krakow.
Several other facilities in the area display an exceptional breadth of fine art. The Mercer University Hardeman Art Gallery, Macon College Library Exhibits, Wesleyan College Cowles Myles Collier East Gallery in the Porter Fine Arts Building, and other area academic centers open their collections for public viewing. The Middle Georgia Art Association, a non-profit organization, spot lights local artists in the historic Kirkland House Gallery on Spring Street.
Macon's newest museums, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, feature interactive displays
and authentic articles. City leaders expect these museums to
draw thousands of tourists to the downtown area annually.
Interestingly, Maconites Little Richard, James Brown, Otis Redding,
and The Allman Brothers Band have been inducted into both the
Georgia Music Hall of Fame and the national Rock & Roll Hall of
Fame. The legacy these people created here continues to inspire
local musicians and others like them across the country.
Performance Arts Showcase
The performing arts lack neither talent nor venues in Macon, and audiences frequently fill the houses to capacity. Historically, Maconites have shared a deep appreciation for theatrical and musical performances. The Grand Opera House opened initially as the Academy of Music in 1884. Designed with exceptional acoustics, especially for that time period, the theater's immense stage rivals some of the largest in the nation, and its stage height soars almost seven stories. Nearly one-fifth of Macon's population-about 2,418 people-could be seated when it became the Grand Opera House in 1905. Audiences witnessed unforgettable and thrilling performances: circuses, John Philip Sousa and his Concert Band, the "Divine" Sarah Bernhardt, Charlie Chaplin, and a production of "Ben Hur" with live horses running on a treadmill that turned the scenery behind them. Vaudeville acts always drew large crowds with names like Will Rogers, George Burns, and Gracie Allen topping the handbills. Harry Houdini cut two trap doors in the stage floor to make an escape during a performance here, and one of them is still used as the Rat King's entrance in "The Nutcracker" production. The Nutcracker of Middle Georgia, a unique production company in the nation, presents the ballet each year.
A remodeling in 1936 changed the Grand Opera House to a movie theater and films were shown there until 1961. Then the elegant building slipped into disrepair. Threatened by bulldozers and the prospect of becoming a parking lot, the Grand Opera House was saved by the Macon Arts Council. This organization raised the funds to restore and operate it as a live performance theater once again. The Grand Opera House no longer uses the narrow slat benches of the steeply ascending Peanut Gallery, but comfortably seats 1,057 on the main floor and gilded balcony. Photos in the Encore Room, a refreshment area, recall the top performers of the last 20 years, such as Bob Hope, Vincent Price, Ray Charles, Woody Herman, and George Winston. The theater also produces its own Broadway shows, often calling on the talents of local actors.
Another striking historic venue, the Macon City Auditorium, also testifies to Maconites' appreciation for the arts. According to Macon Magazine, the structure was "hailed as the world's largest unsupported copper dome" and its architects derived inspiration for the design from the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. Multimillion-dollar renovations in the late 1970s maintained the exterior's structural integrity. It looks much the same today as it did in 1925 with stately limestone Greek Doric columns lining the wide terraces. Inside, the Macon Symphony Orchestra takes the stage with up to 100 players for annual concerts, and the auditorium also hosts other musical performances, graduation and memorial ceremonies, fund-raisers, and sporting events. The venue seats more than 2,500 and its busy calendar draws large audiences throughout the year
The Macon Little Theater and Theatre Macon accommodate smaller audiences in a more intimate setting, and they too enjoy loyal patronage. The Macon Little Theater, located next to the Museum of Arts & Sciences on Forsyth Road tends to present popular plays and traditional musicals. Theatre Macon, however, leans more toward the avant-garde and its seasonal offerings often include productions created by local or regional playwrights. In 1995, Theatre Macon moved to the renovated Ritz movie house and now seats about 250. Both Theatre Macon and Macon Little Theater invite area actors to audition for shows, and these stagehouses also bring in nationally acclaimed thespians for special roles.
Children especially enjoy the many festivals held throughout the year.
Photography by Ken Krakow.
Theater and musical productions at the public and private schools, colleges and universities, and churches also feature local artists. Within the area, other communities offer stage and musical performances, too, and it's common for Maconites to travel to Atlanta for an evening of entertainment. Amateur poetry readings and acoustic performances gathered a dedicated following in the coffee shops here in the early 1990s, allowing budding artists to share their work. In addition, the local bars and restaurants continue to book local and national bands.
For Maconites of all ages with artistic interests, the area's colleges and universities, the Piano Improv Center, and the YWCA also offer group and private musical lessons and classes on creative writing, acting, and the visual arts. The community actively supports a variety of organizations that encourage individuals to pursue their talents. These symphonies, concert bands, repertoire-specific singing or dancing groups, and many others, help Macon's cultural heritage continue to grow and expand.
